After Diwali, the ground-level obstacle survey will be carried out at Purandar. While it was scheduled to start this week, there has been a delay, said Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) officials, adding that the survey that is expected to cost nearly Rs 50-60 lakh will be carried out in the area after October 30.

MADC , the agency which will be developing the airport, has stated that a Hyderabad-based agency has been selected for the survey and before it is carried out, there will be a continuous dialogue with the villagers as they are resisting the airport in the area.

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“The villagers have to understand that it will not be a forceful acquisition and they need not worry and the entire process will be carried out by taking them into confidence,”said MADC vice chairman Vishwas Patil on Sunday. With the agency finalised the survey will be carried out.

Meanwhile, the villagers are still protesting against the project and stopping any vehicle with a Government of India stamp. Recently, they stopped a forest vehicle that had come for tree census.

Nandu Memane, a villager, said that they are not willing to part with any of their land and do not want any survey. “We will not allow any survey here,” said Memane

SDO Purandar Sanjay Asawale is positive and has said that he has already established some talks with some of the villagers and they seem open to the idea. “In the period before Diwali our officials will be talking to the locals and trying our best,” he said.